Automatic chime and christmas tree holder



Sept. 25, 1951 G, ECKHARDT, JR I AUTOMATIC CHIME AND CHRISTMAS TREEHOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21, 1949 INVENTOR, 650265 5 00-44207,([2.

v a I HrTOE/VEY- P 25, 1951 G. ECKHARDT, JR I 2,568,995

AUTOMATIC CHIME AND CHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER Filed Nov. 21, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

35' I ig' Goee ECKHAQDT, r12.

Patented Sept. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC CHIME ANDCHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER 8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a musical instrument, andparticularly to such a device designed for use in conjunction with arotating Christmas tree.

Automatic musical devices proposed for this purpose in the past'have, ingeneral, been of complicated and costly construction and their expensehas prevented their wide acceptance by the public. Moreover, suchdevices have generally afforded only one melody to be played, and theprovision of other melodies greatly increases the manufacturing cost.

My invention, on the other hand, is arranged to play, selectively, anyone of a number of melodies embodied in a stationary record disk, andonly two sliding contacts are necessary for each melody. Furthermore, inaccordance with my invention, the melody may extend over any desiredmusical range without increasing the number of sliding contacts.

An object of my invention is, therefore, to provide an improved musical,rotating Christmas tree holder of novel design.

Another object is to provide such a device wherein a single record diskmay have a number of diiferent melodies recorded thereon.

Another object is to provide such a device using only two slidingcontacts for each melody.

A further object is to disclose a device of the above character inwhich, selectively, all melodies may be played in sequence.

Another object is to disclose an improved record disk for a rotatablemusical instrument.

A still further purpose is to provide a rotating musical device whereinany number of different musical tones may be included Without increasingthe number of sliding contacts.

A still further object is to provide a device having the aboveadvantages, which is simple in operation and comparatively inexpensiveto manuf-acture.

These and other objects and purposes of my invention will be understoodfrom a reading of the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings showing an exemplary form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a rotatableChristmas tree holder embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, taken on line 11-11of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of one form of the recorddisk of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a view taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary diagram of the electrical circuit embodied in asimplified form of the stationary record disk of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view taken on line VIII-VIII of Fig. 1.

Generally speaking, my invention includes a housing with a motor driven,vertically disposed shaft, on the upper end of which is a tree-engagingmember. The shaft is driven at a relatively slow rate, preferablyapproximately one-half revolution per minute.

Immediately beneath the tree-engaging member is a circular slip ringholder, fixed to the shaft and including a radially extending sweep armon which may be mounted a plurality of spring-biased switches. Beneaththe movable sweep arm is positioned a stationary record disk with one ormore melodies recorded thereon by means of electrical contacts. Suchcontacts are arranged in circular paths on the record disk, each melodyoccupying one path, and the paths are concentric witheach other and withthe vertical shaft.

The spring-biased switches carried by the sweep arm are arranged to makesequential electrical connections with the contacts in a selectedcircular path as the sweep arm is rotated by the shaft. A bank of chimebars, each having a different tone, provides the musical notesconstituting a selected melody, and each chime bar has a solenoidactuated striker associated therewith. The solenoid of each chime bar isconnected to an appropriate one or more electrical contacts in thecircular paths on the stationary record disk. A source of electric powersupplies current through a brush into a selected one of the rotatingslip rings whence the current is conducted to one of the spring-biasedswitches on the rotatable sweep arm.

During the movement of the sweep arm, contact is momentarily madebetween the springbi-ased switches and each of the electrical contactsinthe selected circular path on the stationary record disk,- thussequentially actuating the solenoids associated with the several chimebars, and reproducing the melody embodied in the selected circular path.I provide a selector switch 'by means of which a desired melody may bechosen for repeated playing or all melodies may be played sequentially.

I may also provide in the upper wall of the housing, adjacent thevertical shaft, a number of openings covered by colored transparencies.A small electric lamp fixed to one of the rotating elements, such as theslip ring holder, creates pleasing and harmonious colored light beamsprojected upwardly upon the rotating tree.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, housing i8 issupported at its corners by feet [2 and includes a box-like structurehaving an upper wall [4. Formed centrally in wall [4 is port [6. Lowerwall I8 is likewise provided with a centrally disposed port 28. Mountedupon lower wall i8 is a pedestal block 22 and a stationary record disk24 is supported by pedestal block 22. Record disk 24 and pedestal block22 are each provided with circular channels 23 and 21 respectively,these channels being coaxial with upper port [6 and lower port 2|.

Projecting through these channels and ports is vertically disposed shaft26 supported by thrust bearing 28 which in turn is mounted in acounterbored recess formed in the upper surface of pedestal block 22.Shaft 26 is also journaled in lower bearing 25, which is likewisemounted in a counterbored recess in the lower surface of block 22. Fixedto the upper end of shaft 26 as by set screw 4i is a cup-shaped treeholder 42 having one or more adjustable bolts 44 arranged to securelygrip the trunk of tree 43 and hold it in substantially verticalposition.

The lower end of shaft 26 is coupled to a driving means 29, preferablyan electric motor with suitable reduction gearing to rotate shaft 26 atapproximately one half revolution per minute. I may provide a flexiblecoupling means between the shaft 26 and motor 29 so that slightmisalignment will not result in a binding of shaft 26.

Fixed to shaft 26 above record disk 24 is slip ring holder 32,constructed of dielectric material. Holder 32 contains on its lowersurface one or more circular metallic slip rings 34, against each ofwhich rides a brush 36 arranged to form a sliding electrical contactwith its respective slip ring 34. Each of the brushes 36 is mounted inpedestal block 22 and projects upwardly through holes formed instationary record disk 24. Also mounted for rotation on shaft 26 isradially extending sweep arm 38, carrying near its outer end a pluralityof spring-biased switches 46 radially spaced along the length of arm 38.

As best seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 7, stationary record disk 24 is providedwith a plurality of circular tracks or paths 46, each track or pathrepresenting a melody. Positioned in each path 46 is a series ofelectrical contacts 48.

I provide a plurality of chime bars 58, each having a different musicaltone and having one end supported in block 51. There is a strikermechanism for each chime bar, as shown in Fig. 4, including a solenoidindicated generally at 52; solenoid 52 includes an electrical coil 54and an armature 56. The upper portion of the ferromagnetic armature 56has attached thereto a wooden striker head 58, and beneath each solenoid52 is a cup-shaped member 60 having a pad 62 of resilient material, suchas felt or the like, to deaden the sound of the fall of armature 56after it has hit its chime bar 58.

Winding 54 is fed by electrical conductors 64, as will be understoodfrom the description of the electrical circuit diagram hereinafter. Thevoltage for operation of solenoids 52 is preferably low, of the order of12 volts, and such low voltage is provided by transformer 86 mounted onlower wall l8 within housing [8.

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Mounted on housing In is a selector switch, indicated generally at 66,arranged to allow the operator to choose a desired melody by rotation ofknurled handle 68 containing indicator 10. In order to permit automaticplaying of all melodies in sequence, there is provided means forautomatically switching from one melody to another once during eachrevolution of sweep arm 38. Such means may include lever wheel 12associated with selector switch 66 and having a plurality of radiallyextending arms 13. As best seen in Fig. 8, the arm 13 which projectsupwardly and toward sweep arm 38 will be struck by the outermost tip ofsweep arm 38 as the arm swings through the portion of its are closest toselector switch 66, and each such movement of lever wheel 12 selects thenext melody in sequence.

Two of the slip rings 34, preferably the two innermost rings, are usedfor conducting an electrical circuit to electric socket 14 which ismounted upon and rotates with tree holding means 42 in order to permitthe continuous operation of one or more strings of Christmas tree lightsor other electrical devices while the tree is being rotated.

Spaced circumferentially about port 46 in upper wall I4, I may provideone or more openings 15 in said wall and interpose therein thin sheets76 of colored transparent material or filters. I then attach one or moreelectric lamps 18 on the upper surface of slip ring holder 32 spacedradially from shaft 26 so that light from lamps 18 passes upwardlythrough colored filters l6 and is projected upon the branches (notshown) of tree 43. Lamps 18 receive electrical power from a pair of sliprings 34, preferably the innermost pair, as shown. Each of the remainingslip rings 34 is connected by a conductor 84 with one of thespring-biased switches 40.

As best seen in the fragmentary views of stationary record disk 24 inFigs. 3 and '7, each of the electrical contacts 48 is connected to oneof a plurality of conductors. For clarity of description, I have thereshown an arrangement using only two separate chime bars, but it will beevident that as many more may be used as desired.

The electrical circuit of my invention is shown in Fig. 6, and again forclarity I have shown the electrical circuit for only two chime bars andtheir actuating solenoids. Connection plug 9| is arranged to be attachedto a convenient source of alternating current power and feeds theprimary of a transformer 86 through conductors 82. Transformer 86 is ofthe step-down type and its low secondary voltage, preferably 12 volts.serves only to actuate the several solenoids 52 of my invention.

Connected to one side of the output of transformer 86 through conductor63 is selector switch 66. In the illustration shown in the drawings,wherein any one of three melodies may be played, selector switch 66 isprovided with four terminals. One terminal 94 is the off position ofswitch 66 and each of the terminals 96 provides for selecting thedesired melody to be played. As hereinabove stated, selector switch 66may be manually actuated and is also preferably provided with meansactuated once in each revolution by the outer end of sweep arm 38 sothat all melodies ma be automatically played in sequence.

Each of the terminals 86 is connected by a conductor 98 to one of thebrushes 36 mounted in the stationary record disk 24. Each of the brushes36 makes continuous sliding contact with one of the circular concentricslip rings 34 carfled in the lower face-of slip ring holder 32. It willbe recalled that sweep arm 38, carrying thereon a plurality of radiallyspaced switches 40, is fixed to and rotates with slip ring holder .32.Conductors IO'I represent the electrical connec= tions of sweep arm 38,each of conductors IIJI connecting one of the concentric sli'p rings 34with one of the resilient switches 40-.

With particular reference to the outermost switch 40, it will be notedthat conductors I02 and I02 lead from stationary record disk 24 tosolenoids 52 and 52', respectively, and conductors I03 and I01 connectthe solenoids to transformer 86. During the rotation of slip ring holder32 together with sweep arm 38 and its associated resilient switches 40,an electrical connection will be made momentarily from switch 40- to oneof the contacts 48 in stationary record disk 24.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 7 that each of contacts 48 isconnected to one of two conductors I02 or I02", representing, say, notesA and B respectively on the musical scale. When a particular contact 48connected to conductor I02 is momentarily energized by resilient switch40, the electrical circuit thus established will energize solenoid 52 sothat armature 56 and its associated striker head 58 are caused to moveupwardly so that head 58 will strike chime bar 50, thus producing amusical note. Similarly, when an electrical contact '48 connected toconductor I02 is energized by resilient switch 40, it will be seen thatsolenoid 52' will cause its armature 56' and associated striker head 58to strike chime bar 50'.

Fig. 3 illustrates one means of forming electrical contacts 48 on recorddisk 24. As there shown, and with particular reference to the outermostcircular path 46, it can be seen that for each contact 48 in path 46there is provided a pair of cylindrical passageways or channelsextending through the disk 24 perpendicular to the upper and lowersurfaces thereof. Each channel is large enough to permit the passage ofan insulated conductor I02 therethrough. Conductor I02 passes upwardlythrough channel 41, thence across the upper surface of disk 24 tochannel 41, and thence downwardly to the lower surface of the disk. Theconductor I02 then extends along the lower surface of disk 24 to thepair of channels 49 and 49' corresponding to the next occurrence of thesame note in the melody, and passes upwardly through channel 49', acrossthe upper surface of disk 24, and downwardly through channel 49.Conductor I02 continues in path 45, being threaded through theappropriate pair of. channels for each occurrence of the musical noteassociated with that conductor.

Conductor I02, associated with a different musical note, is similarlyled through its appropriate pairs of channels, as 45 and 45, in disk 24.When the conductors have been threaded through their channels, inaccordance with the tones constituting the melody of path 46, theinsulation is removed from each conductor on the portion thereof lyingon the upper surface of disk 24. A series of bared electrical contacts48 is thus formed in the circular path 46, and each contact will make amomentary electrical connection with resilient switch 40 during therotation of sweep arm 38. I have found that conductors having an enamelinsulation are especially well suited to be used as just described,although any conductor having an insulation which can be convenientlyremoved may be employed.

Since sweep arm 38 is rotated at a constant speed, it will be'understoodthat the spacing be= tween adjacent pairs of channels in path 46 cor:responds to the time interval between succes= sive notes in the melodyof that .path. It is understood that although only two conductors I02andI02, two chime bars 50 and 50' and their associated solenoids 52 and 52'have been illus= trated, my invention comprehends the use of many chimebars in order to permit playing of most of the relatively simplemelodies. I have found that twelve chime bars, as shown in Fig. 2,provide suflicient tonal gradations for this purpose.

Also fed from alternating current power source through conductors I04 iselectric motor 29 arranged to slowly rotate tree holder 42 by means ofshaft 26, as described hereinbefore. In order to provide for connectionof one or more strings of electric lamps on the rotating tree, I provideconductors I65, each connected through one of the brushes 36 to acircular slip ring holder 32. Thusalternating current at line voltagewill be available at electrical socket I4, which is arranged to rotatewith a tree holder 42. Lamp 18, when used, may also be energized fromthis same line voltage circuit, and provides rotating illuminationprojected upwardly onto the tree'held by tree holder 42.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my inventionand have disclosed certain modifications thereof, I do not wish to belimited thereto. All modifications and changes within the spirit of theinvention are intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A musical instrument comprising: a vertical shaft and pedestal blockarranged to support the shaft for rotation, including a thrust bearingadjacent the upper end of the shaft; a motor connected to the lower endof the shaft; a sweep arm carried by the upper part of the shaft andresilient switch means carried by the sweep arm; a stationary recorddisc of dielectric material beneath the sweep arm, said disc beingprovided with a reproducible sound record comprising a series ofmetallic electrical contacts arranged in a circular path, said contactsbeing spaced in accordance with tempo of a melody; a plurality of chimebars, each of a desired tone; a striker and striker actuating means foreach chime bar; and an electrical circuit for each chime bar connectingcontacts corresponding to each tone to a striker actuating meansassociated with a chime bar of such tone and through the resilientswitch means with a source of energy whereby the striker actuating meansare selectively energized in accordance with the placement of thecontacts in the path of the switch means.

2. A musical instrument of the character stated in claim 1, wherein therecord disc is provided with a plurality of different recordings, eachcomprising a series of metallic electrical contacts in a circular path,the sweep arm is provided with a plurality of resilient switch means,each in operative relation to one of said paths and the circuit includesa manuall actuatable selector switch whereby a selected switch means maybe energized.

3. A device of the character stated in claim 1, wherein the record diskis provided with a plurality of different recordings, each comprising aseries of metallic electrical contacts arranged in a circular path, saidpaths being concentric and each path lying in a virtually common radialzone of the disk; a plurality of resilient switch means carried by thesweep arm, each of said means being in operative relation to a differentpath; a selector switch in the circuit whereby each of said switch meansmay be separately energized; and means operative in timed realtion tothe rotation of said shaft for operating the selector switch tosequentially energize the switch means.

4. A device of the character stated in claim 1, including a slip ringand brush means to maintain electrical connection between a source ofenergy and the resilient switch means carried by the sweep arm.

5. In a device of the character stated, provision of a plurality ofchime bars, each of a desired tone; a striker in operative relation toeach of said chime bars; a striker actuating means for each striker; arecord including a series of metallic electrical contacts arranged alonga path, said contacts being spaced in accordance with the tempo of amelody; an electrical circuit for each tone permanently connectingcontacts corresponding to such tone to the striker actuating means ofthe chime bar for that tone; and switch means arranged to sequentiallycontact said metallic electrical contacts to sequentially energize thestriker actuating means and reproduce the melody carried by the recordupon said chime bars.

6. A device of the character stated in claim 5, wherein the record isstationary and said switch means is mounted upon a vertical shaft; andmeans for driving the shaft.

7. A device of the character stated in claim 5, wherein .the said pathincludes a plurality of pairs of spaced cylindrical channels formed insaid record, metallic electrical contacts of each given tone beingformed by bared portions of an insulated conductor threaded through thepairs of channels corresponding to such tone.

8. Amusical instrument comprising: a plurality of chime bars, each of adesired tone; an electrically actuated striker for each chime bar; arecord including a series of metallic electrical contacts arranged alonga path; an electrical conductor for each tone permanently connectingcontacts corresponding to such tone to the electrically actuated strikerof the chime bar for that tone; a source of electrical energy; a switchmeans fed from said source and movable along said path arranged tosequentially contact said metallic electrical contacts.

GEORGE ECKHARDT, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 859,620 Sandell July 9, 19071,816,647 Goriup July 28, 1931

